On a Folding Elliptical Trainer for Truck Drivers
We had never heard of a folding elliptical trainer prior to receiving an inquiry through a comment posted to an article on our site.
We were intrigued.
Why would truckers even be looking at using this type of exercise equipment?
First, the use of such a device in a truck could theoretically encourage truck drivers to regularly do trucker exercises or a trucker workout.
Second, according to some, exercising on an elliptical trainer provides a superior workout compared to doing other types of exercises.
Two of the major points are:
- The smooth stride causes less
joint impact than running
(or even walking); and
- Units with arm bars allow the
upper body to get a
workout at the same time as the lower body.
Shown here
are two units in a gym area at the Greater Chicago I-55 Auto Truck Stop
(or Plaza) in June 2010.
These units are not designed to be folded on a
regular basis.
Would
it be possible for motivated professional truck drivers to carry a folding version of
this equipment with them to do physical
exercises in their trucks?
Let's back up and first address taking exercise
equipment in general on the road in a commercial motor vehicle.
Before You Carry Exercise Equipment in Your Truck
Answer these questions:
- How much space do you have in
your truck to store the equipment and where is it?
- How easy is it to set up and
use the equipment?
- How long does it take to
assemble or set up the
equipment prior to use?
- Does set up need to be done
just once or every time you use the equipment?
- Will the equipment in its
folded or stored position
hinder your sight or your ability to do your job in any way?
- Prior to setting up the
equipment, will you need to
uninstall or move anything in your truck (such as the passenger seat)?
- If you uninstall something from
your truck, what will
you do with it:
- store it at home,
- store it in self
storage,
- return it to your trucking
company or
- some other option?
- If you will need to uninstall
something from your truck
what tools will you need (such as a specialty Torx screwdriver or bit)?
- What other tools
and equipment will you need
to set up your
exercise
equipment?
- The biggest floor space in
most
Class 8 commercial motor vehicles in the USA is the rectangle:
- front to back between the
gear
shift
and lower bunk and
- side to side between the
seats
and cabinets.
How much space do you have in
your truck to set up
and
use the equipment?
- How difficult would it be to
move the equipment from
one
truck to another?
- How much does the exercise
equipment weigh and what
impact will this have on your truck's payload?
- If the equipment you plan to
use is designed to
support
your body, what
is its weight limit?
- Will having this equipment in
your truck make you
feel
cramped or limit your options regarding taking other items on the road
(such as an ice
chest or portable
toilet)?
- What regular maintenance or
repairs will your
equipment
require?
- Will you be able to do the
maintenance or repair work
on
your equipment yourself or will that work need to be done by the
manufacturer or some other authorized dealer?
- If you have to have your repair
work done outside your truck, how easy will it be get your equipment to
a repair shop?
- How much will maintenance or
repair work cost?
- Will you save money over having
a
trucker
gym membership?
- How often do you travel to
truck
stops with trucker
gyms?
- Have you developed a regular
program of exercise such
that you'll be sure to use your exercise equipment regularly?
- What product
reviews has the
exercise equipment received?
- Does your trucking
company have any prohibitions against carrying equipment like
this?
Before You Buy Any Elliptical Trainer for Exercise
Compare folding elliptical trainers for features,
strength, construction and
price.
There are great
differences between them.
Exercise equipment like the following is sold on Amazon.com, with whom we have an affiliate relationship.
Additional Considerations
- Are there other types of
exercises you can do in your truck that would provide the same benefits
as using a folding elliptical trainer?
- Does the folding elliptical
trainer you're considering allow you to program workouts, set time
limits or monitor your heart rate?
- If you choose to rest your arms
for a while, does the folding elliptical trainer you're considering
have a stationary place to put your hands?
- What is the difference between
a true folding elliptical trainer and a "glider"?
Before You Carry a Folding Elliptical Trainer in Your Truck
Answer these questions:
- Besides the "resting" footprint
of
a folding elliptical trainer, how much
additional space does the unit require to "cycle" or "rotate" through a
revolution?
- Aside from using floor space,
could you set up and use a folding elliptical trainer on your lower
truck bunk after raising
your mattress on its side and leaning it against the back wall (and
raising the upper bunk if you have one)?
- Will using a folding elliptical
trainer in any way compromise
your workout (such as by limiting or eliminating "incline" or
"resistance" settings)?
The
photo here is a close-up view of an
elliptical trainer taken at the Greater Chicago I-55 Auto Truck Stop
(or Plaza) in June 2010.
With the right pedal in the forward position,
you can see that part of the equipment extends farther forward than its
base.
Although this is not a folding model, the principle holds of
checking
for additional room for a unit to cycle or rotate.
Money saving tip:
We
recommend that before you invest in any exercise equipment for use in
your truck -- especially an expensive folding elliptical trainer --
that you develop a program of physical exercise first.
Many pieces of exercise equipment have been
purchased by people who had good intentions about "starting"
an exercise program, but
they ended up collecting dust while being stored in a corner, closet,
spare room or garage.
If you buy equipment but don't use it, you will
have wasted your money.
You should consult a physician before starting any
exercise program, especially if you have a goal to lose a significant
amount of weight. While consulting a physician can be costly, see if
you can combine the visit during which you plan to address your
exercise plan with some other visit (perhaps your DOT physical).
Start small when you begin an exercise
program. If you over-do your first workout and get sore, you may become
de-motivated to continue. Remember that just as your truck needs to
start out in a low gear, so you need to start any exercise program
slowly. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Consider the "return on investment" of buying and
using any exercise equipment. One example of this is if you use it and
are able to stay strong and healthy, you can reduce the amount of time
you can't drive due to being sick.
While you are using exercise equipment, remember
to
address other aspects of healthy living in your life such as your diet,
the amount and quality
of your sleep, quitting
smoking, etc.
Return from On a Folding Elliptical Trainer for Truck Drivers to our Health and Wellness page or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.